Flexible tape



Jan. 5, 1943. .1. DINHOFER FLEXIBLE TAPE Filed May 14, 1942 3 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 5, 1943 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to flexible tapes and more particularly to the type adapted to be employed as measuring tapes, and for many other purposes.

At the present time, there are several types of measuring tapes on the market, the same usually consisting of a transversely arched or channelled thin metal strip, the purpose of arching or channelling the strip being to add stiffness to the tape and enable the same to be extended for a considerable length without buckling or doubling upon itself.

The object of the present invention is to provide a tape of this general character, suitable for use not only as a measuring tape, but for many other purposes, in which the tape is greatly stiffened or reinforced by means of spaced reinforcing elements acting to hold the tape from buckling or bending, so that it may be extended for greatly increased lengths yet prevented from buckling.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which Fig. 1 is a face view of a tape constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a view of the reverse side of the tape; Fig. 3 is a view of the concave face of the tape; Fig. 4 is a face view of one of the stiffening members; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 6 is a face view of a portion of the tape, showing the apertures for the reception of the tongues on one of the stiffening members.

In the drawing, l indicates the body of the tape, the same preferably consisting of a lengthy strip of thin, flexible metal. such as spring steel or the like. The body of the tape is formed with a can trally disposed longitudinally extending bend 2 so that the tape is thus of channel formation, having a concave face 3 and convex face I. The formation of the tape I into such channel form adds stiffness and materially increases the resistance to transverse buckling or folding, and this resistance to buckling or folding is greatly increased by the employment of a plurality of equally spaced reinforcing or stiffening elements 5.

One of these elements is shown in Fig. 4, the same consisting of a normally flat plate of thin and resilient metal capable of relatively easy flexure. The opposite side edges 9 and ID of the plate 5 are each formed with a projecting tongue 6, and the tape I is provided with apertures 4 near its longitudinal edges, said apertures being so spaced that the tongues 6 may enter and engage with said apertures when the plate 5 is flexed or bowed, as clearly seen in Fig. 5. The tendency of the plate 5 to flatten or straighten out, holds thetongues 6 in locking engagement with the apertures 4 and since the concave face of the arched or bowed plate 5 is opposed to or faces the concave face 3 of the tape, it will be seen that by employment of the plates 5 great stiffness is added to the tape and the tendency to transversely buckle or bend is resisted.

The reinforcing plate or stilfeners 5 may be 1 located at equal distances apart for the entire length of the tape and the same will enable the tape to be extended for great lengths without exhibiting the tendency to buckle or bend. At the same time, since both the tape l and the reinforcing members or stiffeners 5 are made of resilient or flexible material, the same may flatten out under extraordinary stress imposed upon them, such as when the tape is accidentally stepped on or subjected to pressure, and no damage will occur to the tape or reinforcing members thereof.

While I have herein described the invention as being applicable to a tape used for measuring purposes, it will be obvious that a flexible tape or strip of this character will have a great multitude of uses whenever a strip of relatively stiff, yet flexible material is required, since it has the characteristic of being flexible, yet possesses sufficient stiffness to resist buckling or bending when placed under strain. If the tape is adapted for use as a measuring device, either the concave face 3 or the convex face 1 may be used to bear the measurements or graduations.

What I claim is:

1. An article of the character described comprising, a lengthy flexible channel-shaped metal strip provided with a concave face, stiffening means for said tape comprising a plurality of spaced and independent resilient plates, each of said plates having its opposite edges provided with a tongue, the strip having apertures spaced apart to receive said tongues when the plate is in flexed condition, to thereby hold the plate under stress.

2. An article of the character described, comprising, a strip of flexible channelled sheet metal in tape-like form and having a concave face, a plurality of uniformly spaced bowed stiffening plates extending across the strip. said plates having their concave faces opposed to the concave face of the strip, each of said plates having its side edges formed with at least one tongue, the strip being formed with apertures near its longitudinal edges for reception of said tongues, the plates being each held in bowed condition by the engagement of the tongues with the apertures in the strip.

3. A flexible tape consisting of a channelled metal strip reinforced and stifiened against transverse buckling at spaced points only by a plurality of spaced, bowed stiffening plates extending across the channelled face of the strip, said plates being bowed in a direction away from the concave face of the strip, and means by which the plates are detachably engaged with the strip to hold said plates in bowed condition.

4. A flexible tape comprising a thin metal strip of substantial length, said strip having a central longitudinal bend to thereby form the same into channel shape, the formation of the strip into channel shape providing a concave face on the strip, a plurality of equally spaced separate and independent bowed stiffenin plates arched across the concave face of the strip, the strip having apertures adjacent to its longitudinal edges, the plates each having its side edges provided with hook-shaped tongues received in said apertures to thereby hold the plate in arched condition, the flexibility of the plate maintaining the tongues in engagement with the apertures.

5. A flexible tape of the character described comprising, a thin metal transversely arched strip of substantial length, a plurality of separate and independent short, transversely arched stiflening plates overlying the concave face of the strip and separated from one another by distances greater than the length of each plate, the edge portions of the strip bein provided with apertures separated from one another by distances greater than the length of each plate, each plate having tongues entering the apertures and causing the plate to be held in arched formation.

6. A flexible tape of the character described comprising, a thin metal, transversely arched strip of substantial length, a plurality of separate and independent short, transversely arched stiffening plates overlying the concave face of the strip and separated from one another by distances greater than the length of each plate, the edge portions of the strip being provided with apertures separated from one another by distances greater than the length of each plate, each plate having tongues entering the apertures and causing the plate to be held in arched formation, the tongues on each plate being substantially hook-shaped.

JULIUS DINHOFER. 

